Seems impractically uncomfortable, both from a standpoint of transmission of road shock and having to crane your neck up even more than on a DF, or at least as if you were in aero position constantly... but if I had to ride somewhere in a tornado, maybe.... hmmm.....:wink:

bluecoyote

02-19-2007, 10:00 PM

Does not look all that comfortable or all that safe! I would probably throw up in that position on a bumpy road. :wah:

libh

02-19-2007, 10:15 PM

With a smaller tires, could be a good low racer with a short chain.

Long rides might put a lot of pressure on the chest... and the neck situation is not good... but I think it is a great idea - for short rides.

Position might also lend itself to a good, teardrop shaped fairing.

tyler_derden

02-19-2007, 10:30 PM

Try this: lay on the floor on your stomach and breathe. Now imagine doing that while exerting the physical effort required to ride a bike.

Now imagine what would happen to your head and spine in a crash.

No thanks.

TD

Dinero

02-19-2007, 11:17 PM

You'll be surprized. Suddenly you're riding the French mistake.

Clu4u

02-19-2007, 11:32 PM

Makes me think of Bikeolounger's signature block saying!

Life it too short to ride into things headfirst. Sorry if it's not exactly right.

Safety aspect nixes it for me, but with a mirrored arrangement to allow you to look straight down and see forward, it might be comfy, and certainly aerodynamic.

Bent wannabee

02-19-2007, 11:34 PM

and having to crane your neck up even more than on a DF, .

Well,this guy is clever,no neck craning,as the view to the front is managed with a system of mirrors !

http://www.h-zontal.com/images/dessins/appuis.jpg

It's a sort of an upside-down Virtual Rush :-D

It's a natural position ! :wacky: didn't know that humans usually walk on all 4 hehehe!

s/can/could, I think. If Tim Elsdale ever sold more than two, I'd be surprised, and he's long since stopped coming to BHPC events with his.

It'd be fast, but it makes me VERY nervous thinking about it.

Fairing? I AM the fairing!

They were certainly pretty quick, took 1st and 2nd unfaired in 1999. As to the fairing, yep, they tried that too. Ex-F-i-L has video of it falling over at Eastway.

Sylvain

02-20-2007, 08:55 AM

They say one can breathe very easily, as the weight is not on the chest, unlike laying on the ground. But the page on safety is missing ;-)
In a French forum, one said it could be a helmet testing device...

bent pilot

02-20-2007, 09:32 AM

I recall that Fast Freddie rode something similar that Gardner built as a early HPV racer. Then sanity prevailed.

As for as the running cat, it has eyes positioned to actually look forward. This one was photographed in training to chase down a Nocom at the first April one outrun the mountain lion HPRA competition in Peoria.

jeff-o

02-20-2007, 09:43 AM

I think it would be terrifying to ride that! Humans just aren't meant to travel head-first, IMO.

Cunobelin

02-20-2007, 09:46 AM

http://www.encycleopedia.com/index.cfm?pid=23&edID=216

I think this was more of a racing machine than a practical road machine. I rode it on rollers at an exhibition, and found the position disconcerting, but I don't think it was that dangerous.

Tim Elsdale's bike was much lower and much more aerodynamic than this latest french incarnation.

5port

02-20-2007, 10:36 AM

This picture is borrowed from GotBent who spotted this homebuilt Prone on Long Island. I'm convinced they (Prone) are fast but not convinced they are comfortable:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/xlr8also/IMG_1051-1.jpg

wberger

02-20-2007, 01:29 PM

Prone recumbents are as old as supine recumbents. Check old back issues of Human Power Journal for examples.

http://www.ihpva.org/HParchive/index.htm

> This picture is borrowed from Gotbent who spotted this homebuilt Prone on Long Island.

I wouldn't call this a prone recumbent...no pelvis or shoulder support...feet well under the body. It has a saddle and aero bars. It is basically a TT or Tri bike with a very steep seat tube angle.

And notice the bent cranks. This has been tried before by people who imagine you can eliminate the dead spot by magic. He has made them longer...fine... but the dogleg is pointless!

However, it has the same drawback of any very prone or very supine recumbent. The human body evolved to function best with the torso upright. Whenever the torso gets more than 45 degrees either side of vertical the neck and organs don't like it!

> I'm convinced they (Prone) are fast but not convinced they are comfortable:

They certainly FEEL fast. I rode a guy's homebuilt one about ten years ago. You feel like Superman.

Warren

Gary M

02-20-2007, 01:45 PM

Prone recumbents are as old as supine recumbents.
If you scroll down about halfway here (http://www.bloomington.in.us/~bicycle/25th.html) you'll see my friend John, holding up a picture of himself riding one back in the days.

old boy

02-20-2007, 02:11 PM

if society ever evolves to the point of hpv mass transit systems, and one needn't see where they are going; because they are 'riding' on a specialized road (track-monorail), i think we'll seem some radical re-designs of the bike.
ultimately, perhaps flat on the back; head first, pushing the rear wheel directly.

SonomaTrikes

02-20-2007, 02:11 PM

Just when you thought you wouldn't have to worry about nipple rash again...

~Nanda

fallwind

02-20-2007, 02:46 PM

um.... i think any of the girls here will see a fatal flaw with those chest supports.

ouch

wberger

02-20-2007, 03:16 PM

> um.... i think any of the girls here will see a fatal flaw with those chest supports.

Those I have seen support you at the shoulders and/or breast bone...not the rib cage area. The rib cage needs to be able to expand and contract to breathe. I suspect it would be more comfortable for women riders than some of the designer clothes I have seen. :-)

Warren

earthNRG

02-20-2007, 03:43 PM

Check out the video (http://www.h-zontal.com/anim/minifilmh-zontal2.wmv). He rides off-road. Might not be too bad, but I reserve judgement until (if ever) I ride one. I'd be concerned about endos; at least on an DF you can jump off and still land on your feet if you're quick about it.

SonomaTrikes

02-20-2007, 04:13 PM

um.... i think any of the girls here will see a fatal flaw with those chest supports.

ouch

No worries, they make another model called the "Pocket" (sorry Paulo) to manage this tissue...oops I meant issue.

~Nanda

legs_larry

02-21-2007, 08:03 AM

ultimately, perhaps flat on the back; head first, pushing the rear wheel directly.

legslarry,
yup. that's what i was thinking about, only on a rail, or suspended from a gutter like track. no balance required; no vision needed, etc...might squeek out another couple mph's.
(thanks for the pic. i'm guessing he uses mirrors to see the road?)